And overall in 2012, the United States spent a whopping $689 billion on defense and military-related programs.

Just think how strong and well-funded the unemployment insurance program could be if we cut just a fraction of that defense spending and put it towards America's social safety net.

But the amount of money Americans hand over to the defense industry each year pales in comparison to what they hand over in the form of corporate subsidies.

In 2012, the average American taxpayer making $50,000 per year paid a staggering $6,000 in taxes for corporate subsidies, over 174 times what they paid for unemployment insurance.

Of that $6,000, $870 goes to direct subsidies for corporations, including the likes of Exxon, Shell, BP and other Big Oil corporations that are polluting our planet and driving climate change.

Hundreds more go to corporations as indirect subsidies.

In fact, Researchers at the University of Illinois and University of California-Berkeley found that American taxpayers pay a staggering $243 billion each year in indirect subsidies to the fast food industry.

That's because the fast food industry pays such low wages that We The People are forced to make up the $243 billion difference to pay for the healthcare and other public benefits of fast food workers.

Americans are also paying millions in indirect corporate subsidies to Wal-Mart, the nation's largest employer.

America's largest retailer makes nearly $35,000 in profit every minute, and as of 2012, the corporation's annual sales were around $405 billion.

But those huge profits don't trickle down to Wal-Mart employees, who on average take home just $9 per hour.

Those low wages, combined with very poor benefits, force many Wal-Mart employees to reach out to the government for assistance with healthcare, food and housing costs.

As result, a report released earlier this year by congressional Democrats found that Wal-Mart's low wages and poor benefits cost American taxpayers between $900,000 and $1.75 million per store.

Despite what Republicans might try to tell you, the overwhelming majority of taxpayer funds are not going to social safety net programs like unemployment insurance or food stamps.

Instead they're going to prop up multi-billion dollar corporations and an out-of-control military industrial complex that's ballooning in size and power.

This is a simple matter of priorities.

If the average American has to pay $6,000 in taxes, should that money go to oil companies, defense contractors, and the low-wage retail and fast food industries?

Or should it go to fund a strong social safety net, including an extension of long-term unemployment benefits?

Helping Americans pick themselves up and get back on their feet is more important than forking over billions to corporations that don't need it.

This article was first published on Truthout and any reprint or reproduction on any other website must acknowledge Truthout as the original site of publication.

And overall in 2012, the United States spent a whopping $689 billion on defense and military-related programs.

Just think how strong and well-funded the unemployment insurance program could be if we cut just a fraction of that defense spending and put it towards America's social safety net.

But the amount of money Americans hand over to the defense industry each year pales in comparison to what they hand over in the form of corporate subsidies.

In 2012, the average American taxpayer making $50,000 per year paid a staggering $6,000 in taxes for corporate subsidies, over 174 times what they paid for unemployment insurance.

Of that $6,000, $870 goes to direct subsidies for corporations, including the likes of Exxon, Shell, BP and other Big Oil corporations that are polluting our planet and driving climate change.

Hundreds more go to corporations as indirect subsidies.

In fact, Researchers at the University of Illinois and University of California-Berkeley found that American taxpayers pay a staggering $243 billion each year in indirect subsidies to the fast food industry.

That's because the fast food industry pays such low wages that We The People are forced to make up the $243 billion difference to pay for the healthcare and other public benefits of fast food workers.

Americans are also paying millions in indirect corporate subsidies to Wal-Mart, the nation's largest employer.

America's largest retailer makes nearly $35,000 in profit every minute, and as of 2012, the corporation's annual sales were around $405 billion.

But those huge profits don't trickle down to Wal-Mart employees, who on average take home just $9 per hour.

Those low wages, combined with very poor benefits, force many Wal-Mart employees to reach out to the government for assistance with healthcare, food and housing costs.

As result, a report released earlier this year by congressional Democrats found that Wal-Mart's low wages and poor benefits cost American taxpayers between $900,000 and $1.75 million per store.

Despite what Republicans might try to tell you, the overwhelming majority of taxpayer funds are not going to social safety net programs like unemployment insurance or food stamps.

Instead they're going to prop up multi-billion dollar corporations and an out-of-control military industrial complex that's ballooning in size and power.

This is a simple matter of priorities.

If the average American has to pay $6,000 in taxes, should that money go to oil companies, defense contractors, and the low-wage retail and fast food industries?

Or should it go to fund a strong social safety net, including an extension of long-term unemployment benefits?

Helping Americans pick themselves up and get back on their feet is more important than forking over billions to corporations that don't need it.

This article was first published on Truthout and any reprint or reproduction on any other website must acknowledge Truthout as the original site of publication.